Related

West 49th Street Closes at Louise Avenue on Monday

Beginning on Monday, April 10, 2017, West 49th Street just west of South Louise Avenue will close to accommodate the installation of storm drainage infrastructure and other underground utilities. The closure is anticipated to last until July, weather permitting.

A signed detour route will be posted directing through traffic onto 57th Street via Solberg Avenue and Oxbow Avenue. A local detour route will be posted directing traffic to use a temporary traffic signal at 53rd Street and Louise Avenue, then follow Technology Drive and Valhalla Boulevard to 49th Street.

Traffic on Louise Avenue will be maintained on the east side of the road. Access to businesses will be maintained at all times.

The reconstruction of South Louise Avenue is the flagship street construction project for 2017. South Louise Avenue will be reconstructed from West 41st Street to West 49th Street, including the intersection of 49th Street and Louise Avenue. The current five-lane street will be widened to six lanes and include a median with left-turn lanes at select intersections throughout the corridor. The project also will include adaptive traffic signals to help with traffic flow, new LED streetlights to increase safety, and underground utility infrastructure upgrades.

More than 39,000 vehicles a day travel through the intersection of 49th Street and Louise Avenue. A financial incentive has been written into the contract to encourage 49th Street to be reopened as soon as possible. The prime contractor is D&G Concrete Construction Inc. of Sioux Falls.

Drivers are urged to use caution and reduce their speed while traveling near the construction area and should consider alternate routes. To stay up to date about street construction in Sioux Falls, go to www.siouxfalls.org/street-construction. A great interactive map provides all the information you need.